The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

This is one of the saddest movies I have ever seen. Filmed after Jim Henson's death, the Muppets work to discover information about Henson so they can plan a memorial.

In typical Muppet fashion, the muppets have taken a difficult subject and found a way to handle it in a touching, funny, and sad way. I love this movie!

I think it's safe to say that this is perhaps the last great Muppet work of art that exists. In this television special the Muppets pay tribute to the Muppet Man and my life-long mentor and inspiration, Jim Henson. For anyone who remembers the old Muppets and for anyone who considers themselves a true Muppet fan, you can't miss this. Look for it to buy on E-bay.

Jim Henson died in May of 1990, this aired in November of the same year. It must have truly been the hardest thing for his friends to do and I think that's what makes it work. The emotion is real.

Some people thik it's good that there are people who can continue to produce Muppet Films, but if you've seen these new films you've no doubt felt the loss of a great presence. The Muppets have never been the same since. And never will. So enjoy them, for the last time, as they were in this special. I know I do.

Jim Henson's muppets were always a joy to watch, and the world was saddened when he passed away in May of 1990, so a few months after this tragic loss, on November 21st, CBS preempted a show for the night to allow this one-hour tribute to air.

Here, Kermit is away traveling, putting Fozzie Bear and the others in charge of putting on a tribute show. A letter from Kermit informs them the tribute is for Jim Henson, and they don't know him, so a show is set up so they learn about his legacy and history. Throughout the special, we see Fozzie planning what he believes to be a horrible tribute, as in between, celebrities like Carol Burnette, John Denver, and even Steven Spielberg appear to narrate various points of Jim's career. With such narration, scenes from various works of Jim Henson are seen (which include Fraggle Rock, Sesame Street and films like The Dark Crystal and obscure TV shows like The Jim Henson Hour). The final number, sung when the Muppets learn of Jim's death, is empowering, as it has the Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock muppets join in. This is a powerful special telling of Jim Henson's life and career,

This special, filmed and aired the same year of muppet creator Jim Henson's passing, was both sad and uplifting. It was sad watching the characters, and obviously the muppeteers behind them, mourning the loss of Jim. On the other hand, it was nice to know that the muppets would live on. Many people didn't know that Kermit the Frog would continue after Henson, and it isn't until the end that he shows up. Another reassuring sign that the spirit of the Muppets will live on, even if some of them sound a little different.

I remember seeing this special when i was 5, the year it aired. I couldn't quite understand what was going on or who Jim Henson was, at that age i still thought Kermit was real living breathing creature! That is the magic Jim Henson could weave with the help of every single member of his production team.

Seeing this again, nearly 20 years later and i still remember every word, every single word said about him.

As the special progresses you can not only hear but you can feel the emotion from every performer, the love they all had for Jim and how much its breaking they're hearts every second while they made the special.

This special tries to sum up Jim Hensons impact on the world in just an hour, and it does it in the best way...a way Jim would have loved. It had comedy, ethical questions, social commentery and about all else, it was a fun look at a life that ended far to soon.

The Muppets and they're puppeteers were never the same, they lost they're creator, leader and above all else...friend. They have tried to continue, with they're last great outing being the Christmas Carol. Everything else sadly fell short of the magic.

Those of us lucky enough to have seen the Muppets at the top of the game will never forget them, and we will always enjoy what they have done.

And as the children's letters all said, we all miss you Jim, the world became an emptier place without you.